Biography
An Australian alternative rock outfit called Ammonia earned notice for its post-Nirvana tracks “Face Down” and “Little Death.” The lineup features guitarist-vocalist Dave Johnstone, drummer Allan Balmont and bassist Simon Hensworth. Although the trio commands a following across Australia and among scattered American alternative listeners, its sound resists easy placement beside other groups in the same field. The twelve-track album Mint 400 delivered commercial traction through the standout cuts “Suzi-Q,” “Drugs” and “Ken Carter.”
Johnstone and Balmont launched the project in 1992 under the name Fuzzswirl. Bassist Simon Hensworth completed the trio in 1993, prompting the change to Ammonia. Early momentum stemmed from local recording habits and grassroots conversation; a self-released cassette quickly established the group throughout Perth. Seeking wider exposure, the band began playing larger Australian markets in 1994, including Sydney, where “Orange Juice” drew strong notice. By summer of that year the band secured a deal with Murmur. Its debut album In a Box earned enthusiastic notices, while the follow-up Sleepwalking appeared in 1995.
Everyday circumstances shaped the songwriting. “Drugs” confronts indifference to substance use, and the title track of In a Box reflects the insulated experience of performing locally while chasing shows farther afield. Mint 400, the third album, addresses the theme of artistic compromise and takes its name from the desert race chronicled in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The record reached listeners in both Australia and the United States. Listeners responded to the band’s habit of shifting textures to match each song’s emotional tone and lyrical intent. Mint 400 climbed to number 15 on the Australian charts.
Even amid the hundreds of comparable post-Nirvana acts, Ammonia forged a distinct identity marked by an intensity rarely found in the genre. The group sustains its catalog with fresh material while revisiting audience favorites; Mint 400 contains ten new compositions alongside re-recorded versions of “In a Box” and “Sleepwalking.” Ongoing demand for fervent, high-volume rock continues to fuel the band’s progress.
Johnstone and Balmont launched the project in 1992 under the name Fuzzswirl. Bassist Simon Hensworth completed the trio in 1993, prompting the change to Ammonia. Early momentum stemmed from local recording habits and grassroots conversation; a self-released cassette quickly established the group throughout Perth. Seeking wider exposure, the band began playing larger Australian markets in 1994, including Sydney, where “Orange Juice” drew strong notice. By summer of that year the band secured a deal with Murmur. Its debut album In a Box earned enthusiastic notices, while the follow-up Sleepwalking appeared in 1995.
Everyday circumstances shaped the songwriting. “Drugs” confronts indifference to substance use, and the title track of In a Box reflects the insulated experience of performing locally while chasing shows farther afield. Mint 400, the third album, addresses the theme of artistic compromise and takes its name from the desert race chronicled in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The record reached listeners in both Australia and the United States. Listeners responded to the band’s habit of shifting textures to match each song’s emotional tone and lyrical intent. Mint 400 climbed to number 15 on the Australian charts.
Even amid the hundreds of comparable post-Nirvana acts, Ammonia forged a distinct identity marked by an intensity rarely found in the genre. The group sustains its catalog with fresh material while revisiting audience favorites; Mint 400 contains ten new compositions alongside re-recorded versions of “In a Box” and “Sleepwalking.” Ongoing demand for fervent, high-volume rock continues to fuel the band’s progress.
Albums
Keep On My Side
1998
Monochrome
1998
Eleventh Avenue
1998
Mint 400
1996
Sleepwalking
1995
Drugs
1995
In A Box
1994
Singles
